ABSTRACT
China's attitude towards the South Korea-US handling of the Cheonan case underwent a series of changes. At the outset of the sinking, it maintained a traditional crisis-averse attitude. South Koreans do not think that China's reactions to the tragedies inflicted by North Korean military provocations were acceptable according to international norms. China refrained from expressing condolences for the loss of 46 South Korean sailors to their government. It is widely accepted that China will continue to grow economically and accrue more political and military power in the foreseeable future. Strategic and policy implications of China's rise may vary according to a state's geographical location and geostrategic position to China. China's rise is creating dilemmas in Asia with potentially unknown consequences. Based on the observation of China's recent pattern of behavior, it is safe to assume that it will take some time for China to practice normal diplomacy and pursue its interests in accordance with the international norms.
